Friends Connect Issue 20

Issue 20 Winter 2010/2011

Friends Connect

At the heart of healthy communities.

Find out how Attend members volunteer five million hours of their time each year.

in the lifeA day

2 Friends Connect | Winter 2010-2011

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Friends Connect

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Welcome to the Friends Week edition of Friends Connect. This year Friends Week took place from 18th-24th October and saw the Big Society Survey conducted by member groups, members keeping diaries for the Day in the Life and, of course, the Attend AGM. This was our 61st AGM and if you missed it, you missed out!

I wasn’t able to come in person, but a broken arm wasn’t going to stop me, so I recorded my Chairman’s speech to be projected on the big screen.

Jim Easton, National Director for improvement and efficiency in the NHS spoke plainly about the cuts faced by the NHS. Jim said “We are treating too many people in hospital. We need to fight to stay out of hospital and have independent care. Hospitals challenge independence, we need to find ways to get healthy whilst staying in touch with our independent lives. This is important for our wellbeing,

as well as saving money. So it’s about building a package of care in the community.” To illustrate this point Jim spoke about his father’s recent stay in hospital. His father was an active and independent older man, a minor illness saw him spend some time in hospital. The Doctors treated him for the minor illness successfully, but the time out from his normal routine left him weakened and although cured of the complaint that put him in hospital, he came out far less active and independent a man than the one that went in. He said that volunteering organisations can be the added element to the health service that can help treat patients like his father more holistically, ensuring that they remain active and independent for as long as possible.

Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive of the Directory of Social Change, the leading source of information and training for the voluntary and community sector, spoke with humour and passion about the voluntary sector’s ability to withstand the Governments spending cuts and even to thrive during the hard times ahead. “We’re used to doing something with nothing, aren’t we?” she said “When has it ever been easy for us to raise money? Doing a lot with a little is exactly what we are good at in the charity sector.”

After lunch we had a series of workshops to choose from; the new Attend Retail team led a workshop on increasing the profitability of your retail outlet, Fundraising consultant, Rowena, looked at new ways to fundraise and what fundraisers could do to

continue to raise money during a recession. Representatives from member groups were also invited to be expert speakers and to share their knowledge and experience: the Colchester League of Hospital and Community Friends and the League of Friends of St Mary’s Portsmouth led a workshop on recruiting young volunteers, while the League of Friends of the London Road Community Hospital and The Friends of Emsworth Hospital shared their experience of facing the challenge of changes and closure at the hospital they supported. It was excellent to have the opportunity for members to really share their experiences and find out how others have tackled similar problems.

In the afternoon we were joined by other charitable and private organisations for a drinks reception in the conservatory, this was a great chance to meet and network with potential collaborators and funders as well as enjoy a glass of wine and the beautiful music provided by a string Quartet from the English Schools Orchestra.

If you want to know more, speeches and workshop notes can be found on our website: www.attend.org.uk/publications

I do hope you enjoy reading about Friends Week and some of the other activities we have all been involved in over the last few months in Friends Connect, and that you find it as inspiring and impressive as I do!

Best wishes

Pamela Morton OBE

Welcome from the Chairman

Pamela Morton OBE. Photo by Matt Kevan.

3Friends Connect | Winter 2010/2011

A big welcome to new Attend member groups

Attend news

Hertfordshire Hearing Advisory Service

For many people, hearing loss can be both bewildering and isolating. Hearing aids should be used properly and need regular maintenance to obtain the best from them. Technical equipment can also assist people to hear much better at home and at work. The Hertfordshire Hearing Advisory Service (HHAS) can really help.

Working closely with hospital Audiology Departments in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, they provide a range of services to ensure people with hearing loss get the best possible results from their hearing aids.

The Hertfordshire Hearing Advisory Service needs volunteers to help people with hearing loss. There is a waiting list of people living in care homes and sheltered housing who need help with their hearing aids – the charity needs more volunteers to fulfil this need. Volunteers are also

needed to staff HHAS’ Resource Centres in Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage and Bishops Stortford, where people can get help with their hearing aid, advice on assistive equipment and support on coping with hearing loss.

www.hhas.org.uk

Waterhouses Community First Responders

First Responders respond to 999 calls in and around their rural village of Inglebrook in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Because they are local they can get to an incident far faster than an ambulance and are fully trained to provide emergency care until the ambulance arrives.

In a rural community, this aspect of emergency assistance is particularly relevant. It can often take an ambulance or paramedic some time to reach the more remote parts of the Moorlands, so the existence of village based First Responder Groups means that

The Hertfordshire Hearing Advisory Service.

medical help can arrive within minutes: a time difference that can mean the difference between life or death for the patient.

www.waterhousesfirstresponders.org

Devon Freewheelers

Devon Freewheelers transport emergency blood stock and other medical items to hospitals, out of hours and completely free of charge for the NHS.

The main hospitals benefiting from the services are the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, North Devon NHS Trust and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Derriford. This is by no means all of them, every community hospital and their pharmacy departments are also entitled to use the service as well as all Doctors on call. Devon Freewheelers EVS offer the same Out of Hours on call service as the rest of the network, operating from 1900hrs - 0700hrs Midweek and 24hrs cover on the weekends.

www.devonfreewheelers.org.uk


Are you ready for a new wave of skill and talent?

Becki Cullen, Director of the ’Inspirations’ Consultancy suggests that as a country we are in the midst of a great deal of change to the landscape of both volunteering and employment, including a drive to move one million people off Incapacity Benefit and into work, which means there is no better time for organisations to become DisAbility Aware!

Government’s promotion of the Big Society, with an emphasis on community growth and increased volunteering opportunities for all, means that organisations which actively practice and promote an inclusive approach to their volunteer programmes could be at the forefront of benefiting from the expertise and skills of this currently relatively untapped pool of diverse talent,

as many more highly motivated disabled people look to develop and share their abilities and skills in ways which show what we have to offer organisations.

Concurrently but not intrinsically linked, the Personalisation Agenda means that organisations, voluntary, private and public, need to be aware of the impact this is having. Disabled people are becoming customers rather than service users and this has to change the ways in which services are delivered. The need for providers to make themselves attractive, accessible and appealing to disabled people will become ever more important as the Personalisation Agenda empowers increasing numbers of disabled people to choose where they spend their personal/individual budgets. Once again, organisations that become truly DisAbility Aware and call upon the expertise and experiences of disabled volunteers/employees when re-designing their services will gain a far greater appeal and competitive edge in doing so.

Together with this agenda, introduction of the new Equality Act (EA) which came into force on the 1st of October 2010 now makes it far easier for organisations to understand their duties and can be used by volunteer-involving organisations as a comprehensive

example of best practice, thus again providing more scope for organisations to have the guidance and knowledge to attract disabled people.

All of these factors pave the way for the changing nature of our society and together disabled people, professionals and organisations are the best ones to lead the way in using today’s climate to initiate positive and long-lasting change.

Attend news

Make a positive difference. Contact the ‘Inspirations’ Consultancy for a range of awareness raising and inclusive good practice training which empowers, enlightens and inspires professionals, disabled people, volunteers and young people. Courses can be delivered in-house and tailor-made to organisational requirements focusing on the areas of:

DisAbility Awareness

Managing Disabled Volunteers

Training for Volunteers

Inclusive Practice Training for Trainers

Youth Work and 1-2-1 sessions

How to Manage my Carer/Support Worker

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Attend has been awarded a Volunteering Award by Scope, the disability charity, for being the Most Supportive Partner to Scope in the Inclusive Volunteering (Health and Social Care) Project.

The project is about educating Volunteer Managers and organisations in engaging, recruiting and supporting disabled volunteers. We worked with Scope to provide training courses and workshops to 741 of our member groups and Volunteer Managers from 400 organisations involved

Find out more You can watch a short film about the course and the award at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFwOtw-kam4

To find out more about the Attend Academy course Tel: 0845 4500285 Email: [email protected]

in health and social care about working with disabled volunteers.

Half of the organisations that took part, significantly increased the number of disabled volunteers they have.

We also ran Trainer Training courses, 71 new Trainers have been created who are passing on their knowledge of engaging, recruiting and supporting disabled volunteers to many more organisations in health and social care.

This training has been a great success, we have increased the opportunities for

disabled people to volunteer and increased the understanding and support that they will receive in their volunteering roles.

Attend’s award winning training


Get your group online with Attend

Through our auditors, Wilkins Kennedy, our new service helps your Trustees meet their responsibilities while helping to market your charity effectively.

Review of accounts for compliance and marketing This is a review of your statutory accounts to ensure they are fully compliant with the relevant legislation.

Wilkins Kennedy can also work with you to put together annual reviews, impact statements and other literature, ensuring your accounts communicate the desired messages to potential donors and other readers.

Review of systems

Wilkins Kennedy offer a review of your accounting systems and procedures. They would review your controls and systems and provide a summary highlighting areas of recommended change. This would:

Reassure Trustees that they are meeting their risk responsibilities

Reassure Trustees that they are safeguarding the assets of the charity

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Provide practical advice on improving systems of accounting and internal control.

The review would be based on best practice as set out by the Charity Commission.

Provision of a template for accounts format Wilkins Kennedy are able to provide a template for accounts in accordance with Charity accounting guidelines, other relevant legislation and best practice.

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ContactMichelle Wilkes, charity partner Tel: 01689 827505. Email: [email protected] Web: www.wilkinskennedy.com

The sites are very simple to use, making it

easy to write and edit text and add pictures

without needing any special skills or software.

The sites also have some very useful

features, including the ability to accept

online donations, advertise volunteering

opportunities and promote your news and

events. All this for just £25 a month!

Attend Creative will also provide you with

full training and support on how to use your

system. Site Seed makes using a website easy.

For £25 a month, or £300 per year, you get:

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You can use your site to:

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achievements

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• Accept online donations

• Advertise volunteering vacancies.

Attend news

Attend Creative have used all their website building know-how to set up Attend Site Seed, a new service that enables you to create and manage a new website for your group in just two minutes.

“I thought you may like to know how much we appreciated the superb help and service which we received while we were setting up our website.

Attend Creative gave us so much help and confidence, that we now have a website we are proud of. We won’t hesitate to recommend this service to others.”‘Candy’ Baker – Chairman, Stratton Hospital League of Friends

Sign up todayFor more information, see who’s already

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Peace of mind with Wilkins Kennedy


Having broken my arm, I wasn’t able to travel to the 2010 Attend AGM, but I filmed my Chairman’s speech so that it could be projected on the big screen for everyone who attended. You can watch the film online at: www.youtube.com/AttendCreative

I had the pleasure to introduce two high profile speakers; Jim Easton, National Director for improvement and efficiency in the NHS and Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive of the Directory of Social Change. Both spoke about the effect the current economic climate will have on volunteering in health and social care and ways we can continue providing the excellent services we do to our local communities.

The following is taken from my AGM speech:

A Year to celebrate The fact that after 60 years, we are still here should not be under-estimated, and something of which we should be proud.

However, the key issue I want to highlight is the Diamond Awards: it could be the fabulous event and personal endorsement of 250 of our local members by the Duke of York, or the regional events where almost 1000 members participated. Both events produced many letters of support and encouragement for the Trustees, Regional Teams and staff alike.

And so we will be announcing the new awards later in the year. What a great resolution for the next sixty years.

A Year for Re-invention The last five years have been ones where we have explored different projects to increase our understanding and create models for our members to learn from. This has been particularly linked to working with diverse elements of our communities.

This year we trialled direct delivery of projects from our offices. In June 2009 we took over the work of the London Brain Injury Centre, and began offering volunteering opportunities for those who

have had a brain injury. This culminated in the ex-service users creating their own Friends Group.

It has really warmed all our hearts to meet these people and hear of their personal journeys. And it has allowed us to explore first hand new approaches to volunteering, so that we can pass this experience on to our members.

Again another resolution for the next sixty years. So that we as a national body continue to take risks, which perhaps our member groups cannot, to improve the lives of those who face challenges in our local communities.

A Year to invigorate existing services Once again we have a wide range of new services launched this year: • Enhanced core insurance • Auditing service • Trustee finding service through Reach • The Knowledge Bank.

The Knowledge Bank is an information resource we launched this year, which enhances the support Attend gives member groups by offering a range of factsheets on a wide variety of subjects and including links to relevant websites

and e-newsletters. • Attend website design and hosting.

Attend have recently launched a new service called Attend Site Seed that allows members to create a new website for their group in just one minute.

So to summarise: We definitely aren’t past it! It’s true some things aren’t the same, but in reality with some experience under our belts, I would dare to suggest some things are actually better. At one level I am very proud of what we have achieved, and yet at another I know that as we look forward we are going to need all our resources and knowledge to meet tomorrows’ challenges. I am reminded of the words of my great hero Mr Churchill: ”Keep calm and carry on.”

Pamela Morton OBE, Attend Chair.

Find out more For an unabridged copy of the Chairman’s speech visit: www.attend.org.uk or watch online at: www.youtube.com/AttendCreative

For copies of the speech by Jim Easton, National Director for improvement and efficiency in the NHS and notes from the Workshops, visit: www.attend.org.uk/publications/conference-notes

The Chairman’s AGM SpeechExternal auditor reviews

Attend news


Honorary Life Member Awards

Dr Graham Ward Graham Ward has been Chair of the independent group co-ordinating Friends Groups in East Devon for many years. He has also been the Regional Treasurer of the South West Committee between 2007-2010.

Dr Gordon Paterson As a former Board member, Gordon brought valuable experience and knowledge of health to the organisation, having worked in a variety of roles and reaching the position of Director of Public Health in Aberdeen. He was also interim Treasurer for the organisation last year. Gordon was involved in a number of UK wide and international roles including the Chairman of the Defence Medical Welfare service.

Mrs Dee Fletcher Dee has been involved on the East Regional Committee for many years. She started volunteering for the Colchester League of Friends in 1972 as the secretary and has

since then supported both the Regional Committee and Head Office. She currently works with over 130 active league members and has more than likely been a co-ordinator for over a few thousand.

Mrs Jeanne Nicholls MBE Jeanne is President of the Cornwall County Association, a firm supporter of Attend, and been instrumental in its current renaissance in Cornwall. She was heavily involved in raising funds for work to be started on the Cornwall Mobility Centre and for the capital fundraising to continue. It is said that without her persistence and support the Centre of Excellence would not be there now.

Jeanne has been tireless in her work with the League of Friends and her dedication to improving facilities for patients in Cornwall has been exemplary. She has helped recruit many other people, inspiring them to give their time and skills to the League.

She is an unwavering and caring individual. She has worked strenuously and successfully to improve mobility services for the disabled.

Attend Retail Awards 2010

Attend Retail Category Champion AwardConfectionery - sponsored by Mars Friends of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Stanmore

Soft Drinks - sponsored by GSK Guild of the Royal Hospital of St Bartholemew

The Wow! Factor Award (Visually most impressive outlet)

AGM Awards

Freeman Hospital League of Friends

The Shop is a bright, open and inviting location with a warm and friendly service and various displays showing everything a patient, visitor or member of staff may need, from a toothbrush to a luxury box of chocolates.

Volunteering Award For Highest Average Retail Volunteer Hour Contribution per group per week. Friends of Southampton General Hospital = 561 hours

Retail Volunteer of the Year AwardAlwyn Smith, Freeman Hospital League of Friends

Alwyn has been volunteering in the Freeman Hospital Friends Shop for 28 years, coming in seven days a week to run the shop. It was not until after her 80th birthday, having set up and started running the new shop, that Alwyn decided that she could treat herself by having an odd day off and coming in on alternate weekends.

“After many years Alwyn always rises to the challenge and always goes the extra mile.” Joan Duckett, Chairman

Paid Person of the YearMary Browne, Friends of University Hospital Lewisham

Mary was already a volunteer in the old Friends Shop, when in 2009 the Friends opened a new “New to You” shop. An Opportunities for Volunteering (OFV) grant allowed the Friends of University Hospital Lewisham to recruit Mary as the Shop Manager. Mary took the barren area of the reception and turned it into a vibrant, colourful and modern outlet selling clothes, books and jewellery. Mary works many more than her prescribed hours and often comes in on the weekends too.

“Her unique style and good taste have made our shop a place to visit from all parts of the community.” Sandra Dodds, Friends of University Hopsital Lewisham.

Attend news

� Friends Connect | Winter 2010-2011

The League of Friends of Loughborough Hospitals.

Most surveys conducted for the Big Society SurveyLeague of Friends of St Mary’s Hospital Portsmouth

We’ve collated all of your diaries and images together, creating a fascinating insight into a day in the life of our members.

Over the next few pages you can read the story so far, from the time volunteers get up in the morning, to the time they arrive back at home after a hard days volunteering.

In the last year Attend members have volunteered over 5 million hours of their time, that’s 13,699 and half hours a day! Collectively you have contributed over £75 million to the UK’s health and social care.

Friends Week CompetitionAs with previous years, we offered prizes for the best responses to Friends Week. The winners of the Friends Week competition 2010 are...

Best DiaryThe Friends of Whitstable Hospital and Healthcare. You can read their full diary online at: www.attend.org.uk

Best PhotosThe Friends of Eastbourne Hospitals

Left: Volunteers at The Friends of the Eastbourne Hospitals. Photo by Simon Evans.

Right: Volunteers at The Friends of Danesbury sorting donated stock. Photo by Melanie Hawgood

in the lifeA day

As part of Friends Week 2010 we asked you to document an average day in the life of a busy health and social care volunteer to show the huge breadth of volunteering activity that goes on in the course of just one day.

FriendsWeek

Pat restocks the wards with Friends Courtesy Packs.

League of Friends of St Mary’s Hospital PortsmouthOpen up their coffee shop.

Volunteers at the main reception help to direct patients and visitors.

League of Friends of Stratton Hospital Chris, Candy and Hilary prepare the tables, raffle prizes and sales items for the Coffee Morning.

9:30 amThe Friends of the Eastbourne Hospitals Volunteers Angie, Dawn and Sandra make up bouquets for the Flower Shop.

League of Friends of Stratton HospitalPeter, Ray, Alan and Linda arrive to serve coffee and tea, sell raffle tickets and man the sales tables at the Coffee Morning.

10 amThe Friends of the Eastbourne Hospitals Grace collects supplies for the shop.

Pam and Janet order stock for The Friends Shop.

Mr and Mrs Quinn collect money for Flag Week in the Main Foyer.

6:30 am The League of Friends of the Grimsby Hospitals Get up, shower and get ready.

7:30 am The Friends of the Eastbourne Hospitals Take delivery of newspapers and magazines for Friends Shop

League of Friends of the Grimsby Hospitals

Set up the Charity Stall at the Hospital with knitted items, rag dolls, books, toys and bric-a-brac.

8:15 amLeague of Friends of St Mary’s Hospital PortsmouthGloria and Val switch on the coffee machines for the Coffee Shop.

Receive delivery of fresh sandwiches and cakes.

9 amThe Friends of the Eastbourne Hospitals

Open up the Main Shop, Corner Shop and Flower Shop.


10:30 amFriends of Whitstable Hospital and HealthcareBrenda arrives at the hospital to check over the garden tools in readiness for volunteers planting purple crocus bulbs to mark the virtual elimination of polio worldwide.

11 amThe Friends of the Eastbourne HospitalsRodney, Assistant Treasurer, comes in to the office to do some paperwork.

11:30 amFriends of Whitstable Hospital and HealthcareBrenda sets off to the garden centre to buy more compost and some pansy plants and then takes these back to the hospital ready for the weekend.

12 pm

The Friends of Loughborough Hospital Members arrive to man the stalls at the local Church hall.

League of Friends of St Mary’s Hospital Portsmouth’sMargaret and Jill arrive for the afternoon shift in the Coffee Shop.

1 pmThe Friends of Loughborough HospitalJune and Jean re-stock shop, while Jack sorts out the books for sale.

League of Friends of the Grimsby HospitalsCynthia and Vincent start the afternoon shift on the Charity Stall in the hospital.

Photo by Simon Evans

1:30 pmFriends of Whitstable Hospital and HealthcareAlison calls for Jane, who she visits regularly, to take her out to the tea organised by the Friends at the local church hall.

1:45 pm League of Friends of the Grimsby Hospitals.A patient offers to donate some books that he has at home and arrangements are made for Dave to pick them up.

2 pmFriends of Whitstable Hospital and HealthcareAlison helps set up the tables and serves refreshments, followed by giving a hand with the washing up.

The Friends of the Eastbourne HospitalsMr and Mrs Buckwell take over the Flag Week collection in the main foyer.

Remade Cards team, Beryl, Rosalind and Mo sort through donated cards and make them in to new, re-made cards to be sold in the Friends Shops.


2:30 pmThe Friends of the Eastbourne HospitalsJohn and Doreen take trolley shop around the wards.

3 pmThe Friends of the Eastbourne HospitalsCarol shuts up the Corner Shop

3:30 pmThe League of Friends of the Grimsby HospitalsTime for a well earned cup of tea!

4 pmLeague of Friends of St Mary’s Hospital PortsmouthMargaret and Jill wash up all the equipment, empty the coffee machine and the bins.

They count up the days takings and put it in the safe overnight.

Friends of Whitstable Hospital and HealthcareAlison takes Jane and some of the other clients back to their homes.

4:30 pmThe Friends of Loughborough Hospital Empty the donation boxes and the wishing well. They tidy up the stalls and count the money taken!

The League of Friends of the Grimsby Hospitals Count the takings: £197 raised. A grateful patient hears the amount raised and promptly makes it up to a round £200!

6:30 pmThe Friends of the Eastbourne Hospitals Flower Shop staff shut up shop

7 pmThe Friends of the Eastbourne Hospitals Main Shop is closed for the night.

Photo by Simon Evans


Diamond Volunteers are still celebrating!

Meet St Mary’s Diamond Volunteers

Mary Batterbury works in the Out Patients shop, following in her mother’s footsteps.

Diamond Volunteers are still being celebrated with presentations being held up and down the country. The Diamond Awards were part of our Diamond Jubilee celebrations and sought to recognise the contribution of some of our longest-serving volunteers. Almost a thousand volunteers were nominated by member groups, and events have been held both locally and nationally to honour the recipients.

At the beginning of the year 250 Diamond Volunteers were selected to attend a drinks

reception hosted by our Patron, HRH the Duke of York at St James’s Palace. Since then certificates have been presented at Cathedrals, hospitals, golf courses and even at the Eden Project’s botanical gardens.

Ron Henderson, Membership Secretary, has been involved with various Leagues in Hampshire over 20 years.

Fred Hodges regularly takes the trolley service to the wards at St Mary’s Hospital, and runs the weekly stall in Out Patients Dept.

Doreen Kemp, Out Patient Shop volunteer who has devoted many years helping in this busy area of the hospital.

Phyllis Seymour who has volunteered with St Mary’s Hospital for over 40 years, undertaking the Secretarial role and flower arranging in the hospital chapel and coffee shop area.

Rose Phillips, always reliable, smiling and an example to us all, Rose has helped in our shops, trolley service and table sales for many years.

For more info Merit Certificates are always available from Attend free of charge, find out more from: www.attend.org.uk

Diamond Awards


Alex Salmond MSP and Diamond Volunteers from the League of Friends of Raigmore Hospital.

15 East Midlands Diamond Volunteers had a celebration lunch.

Diamond Awards across the UK

15 League of Friends volunteers at Tameside Hospital’s Volunteers Lunch.

50 Diamond Volunteers from North Wales received their certificates at a ceremony held at St Asaph Cathedral

Muriel Swayne of Lymington League of Friends

Diamond Awards


Friends update

£2,000 raised at Summer Fete

The Summer Fete took place in the grounds of St Austell Community Hospital and attracted more than 500 visitors on 26th June.

There were a variety of stalls on offer selling items from cakes to books and plants. Music was provided by Lostwithiel Band and a highlight of the afternoon was the dance collection called Hevva Group, who wowed the crowds with their upbeat moves. The event, officially opened by the mayor, Jill Trewhella, had been organised by the League of Friends of St Austell’s Community

Hospital. The group holds an event every year. Secretary Cecilia Warren said they were particularly pleased to raise more than £2,000. ‘It’s a fantastic amount and we want to say a big thank you to everyone who donated.’ Mrs Warren said the money would be spent on updating hospital equipment and helping to complete refurbishment.

‘Everyone needs a hospital and I know the money will be well spent.’ she said.

Among other attractions at the fete, were Cliff Penrose, St Austell’s famous rabbit hypnotist, Cornish wrestling and the grand raffle, which saw the winner collecting £150.

Mayor Jill Trewhella, Mr K Warren, League Chairman, Candy Baker, Regional Chair, Dr R Bhonsle, League President.

The Doris South Carers’ Haven was donated to Seaton Hospital League of Friends by a very grateful and generous benefactor.

The League have made the house into a haven for Carers, to allow people who spend their lives caring for a loved one, a space to have some time to themselves in the beautiful Devon landscape at minimal expense. The haven is available for Carers to use for up to a week’s retreat for a minimum donation of £150.

The bungalow, which sleeps four, is located in a quiet residential area of Seaton. The bungalow offers sea views, gardens, off road parking and all facilities.

Please contact the Bungalow Manager, Shirley on 01297 553960 Email: [email protected]

GP’s referral may be required. Sorry no pets and unsuitable for wheelchairs.

Devon is top holiday destination for carers thanks to Friends!

Putting patients in the pictureThe League of Friends of Raigmore Hospital have bought TV screens which display information to those waiting for an appointment at Raigmore Hospital’s outpatients department. The three screens provide up-to-date information on how the clinic is running, as well as information on infection control and health promotions.

Outpatients Charge Nurse Lucy Briggs said: ‘The screens are great for the department. Patients are able to see for themselves how the clinic is running time-wise. We also use them to ensure that our infection control and hand hygine messages are being passed on. We also plan to have specific slide shows to highlight particular health weeks, such as smoking cessation or information on Parkinson’s disease.’

Friends Chair, Christina Cameron said, ‘We’ve held various functions over the past year including a sponsored swim, a Songs from the Shows concert and entertaining on a budget dinner. We also sold Christmas Cards and regularly have a sales table within the hospital. I am very grateful to all those who have supported us in our fundraising efforts. I’m delighted to see the screens installed and hope the patients find them very useful.’


Friends update

On the 15th June 2010 the League of Friends of Wythenshawe Hospital celebrated their 55th anniversary.

“Over the years they have probably produced enough cups of tea to flood the Manchester Ship Canal and buttered enough toast to fill the Old Trafford Stadium.” joked Brian Kay of the Friends.

In the 55 years since they began, the Friends have raised over £2 million to help provide services for the patients, staff and visitors at UHSM’s Wythenshawe Hospital. So, when

55th celebrations for the League of Friends of Wythenshawe

Felicity Goodey and Julian Hartley of the Trust and, Brian and Mary Kay of the Friends.

the Friends celebrated their 55th anniversary, there was a special thank you from the senior hospital staff to mark the occasion. Felicity Goodey, Chairman of UHSM and Chief Executive, Julian Hartley thanked the 100 strong volunteer team on behalf of the Trust, and helped the two longest serving Friends, Brian and Mary Kay of Timperley (who have 79 years of service between them) cut a giant anniversary cake. And with tea served at 1955 prices (just 2p a cup) everyone shared in the celebrations.

A tea party to celebrate and thank the 428 volunteers who regularly give up their time to support Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals was held at Epsom Racecourse.

Every hospital volunteer was invited by the Trust to the annual event, which took place in the prestigious Queen’s Stand at the racecourse.

Chief Executive Samantha Jones was at the event to say a personal thank you and to present awards to the long-serving volunteers. She said: “Every year, we hold the tea party as a small way of saying thank you to each and every one of our wonderful volunteers. Their contribution to our hospitals is invaluable.

“Our volunteers help us in so many ways – from befriending people on the wards to running the tea shops and staffing the hospital’s two radio stations. Their support is constant and unwavering, and we are incredibly grateful for their commitment.

“We estimate that our volunteers donated more than 82,100 hours last year. The tea party is a celebration of their dedication to our organisation, and an opportunity for us to thank them for all of their hard work.

“I was particularly proud to be able to present long service awards to eight of the

volunteers, who together have served a staggering 150 years with us. Those awards included one for our eldest volunteer, Phyllis Long, who at the age of 93 and after 15 years of service in the League of Friends shop at St Helier, is now retiring.”

Voluntary services manager, Lesley Scott said: “I’m pleased to say that the tea party was a great success. All of the volunteers had a nice time and it was really enjoyable to watch them relax, chat with one another and even get up for a dance. Even the heavy rain couldn’t dampen their spirits.”

Receiving 15 year long service awards were:Shirley Broughton – League of Friends, St Helier and SuttonPhyllis Long – League of Friends, St Helier and SuttonPamela Barnard – Friends of EpsomRussell Smith – Friends of EpsomHelen Davies – Epsom Medical Equipment Fund

Receiving 25 year long service awards were: Gladys Lester – League of Friends, St Helier and SuttonMaureen Blyth – Friends of EpsomPeter Davies – Radio St Helier

Trust holds tea party for volunteers

Trevor Hartshorn President of the Heanor Memorial Hospital League of Friends was asked to officially open the local 24-hour Tesco Store after a major refurbishment to the supermarket.

Shaun O’ Mara the Superstore manager presented Trevor with a cheque for £500 for the Heanor Memorial Hospital League of Friends, which will be used to refurnish the Visitors Room at the Hospital.

Trevor commented “This particular event had been an enjoyable one. Thank you to Tesco Stores for their hospitality, their consideration of the League for the publicity and for the generous donation to League funds.”

The League has since been back to this branch of Tesco for some very successful Flag Days.

Making Friends at the supermarket

Trevor and the Friends cut the tape for Tesco.


Weston-Super-Mare Hospitals League of Friends have donated the £50,000 required by their hospital for a new digital breast scanner. The Hospital had started raising funds for the equipment themselves in 2008, but were struggling to get the last £50,000 they needed. The Friends stepped in and June Stephen, the League’s Chair presented Chris Creswick, Chairman of the Area Health Trust with the cheque at a ceremony during the groups AGM in July. The state of the art scanner will improve the chances of detecting the early stages of breast cancer.

The Friends support the Hospital with donations on a regular basis. This year the group have donated £53,000 to the hospital through a scheme in which wards and departments apply for the funds to buy new equipment up to £3,000 per item.

The Friends raise funds for the hospital through their Friends Shop in the hospital and through their ‘Tuesday Stalls’ in the hospital foyer selling cakes, jams, bric-a-brac and books. They were also the recipients of four large legacies this year.

June Stephen, Dr Sue King, Lorene Read, John Bennett, David Boughey, Brian Parfitt, Eric Sluman and Chris Creswick. Photo: Archant South West

Andrew Jones MP, for Harrogate and Knaresborough, visited Orb as part of his Volunteer Week 2010 activities. This closely follows Mayor Bill Hoult choosing the arts project for vulnerable people as one of his mayoral charities.

He spent some time talking to Mark and Leon from Orb and revealed how he’d heard a lot about their increasing profile in mental

health support and how vulnerable people with mental health support needs are often marginalised.

Andrew was shown Orb’s different creative spaces: the Art space, IT and computer suite, music rehearsal space and recording studio. they even managed to get the MP to play the drums and record a quick jingle endorsing Orb.

Andrew helped dig out the composters and shift the mountains of rock and debris scattered about in the Ecominds garden. Mick appreciated the help and summarised the day quite neatly:

“I just hope he can see the benefits of what we do. I hope our values rub off on him and he’s more likely to stick up for people with mental health problems.”

Andrew volunteered for three hours with Orb, learning more about what they do and getting his hands dirty, which Orb were pretty impressed with. He asked lots of questions on his fact-finding mission about our local community, social responsibility and social inclusion: all high on the agenda of the new coalition government.

As volunteering was the theme of the day, he was praising the positive impact that it can have and Orb is a shining example of how volunteering can achieve so much even though they’re working within the constraints of limited funding resources.

Local MP gets his hands dirty

Friends donate £50,000 for breast scanner

Andrew Jones, Orb’s local MP, spent three hours volunteering with the arts and mental health charity.

Friends update


“How lovely, what a surprise. The audience fizzed with enjoyment. It stimulated them both physically and mentally.”

Music in Hospitals was established in 1948 to improve the quality of life of adults and children with all kinds of illness and disability, through the joy and therapeutic benefits of professionally performed live music.

Music can be the best medicine in the world!

A growing volume of research into the use of arts in healthcare has provided evidence that live music acts as an aid to recovery and rehabilitation. By reducing levels of pain, anxiety, stress and depression, live music improves wellbeing and can help speed up the healing process.

All the concerts are presented by small groups of professional musicians who

ContactTo arrange a concert in your hospital please contact Lisa or Linda: Tel: 01932 260810 Email: [email protected] Website: www.musicinhospitals.org.uk

are selected for their high standard of musicianship, communication skills and breadth of repertoire. These qualities enable them to reach each member of the audience, whatever their age, illness or disability. The musicians’ sensitive approach helps to bring the person out of the patient.

Music in Hospitals organise some 5,000 live concerts across the healthcare spectrum each year. They work in partnership with many Friends Groups to provide very special music events for the patients and would welcome arranging for their musicians to visit your hospital.

“I felt uplifted by the positive vibe on the ward after the concert. It was a good way for staff and patients to interact.” – Patient

The cost of a concert to Music in Hospitals is £230 but they only charge £115 plus VAT for a performance, which lasts just over 1 hour. Margaret Knight at Ingersley Court NH Bollingwood for Music in Hospitals

Patients at Alnwick Infirmary are benefiting from up to £25,000 worth of equipment and improvements, thanks to the League of Friends over the last 18 months.

The equipment includes: a specialist chair for patients recovering from stroke, a device which helps prevent elderly patients falling, four machines which measure blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation levels and a cross trainer and exercise bike for the physiotherapy gym.

The money has also paid for new seating in

patient waiting areas in outpatients, X-ray, minor injuries units and physiotherapy, TVs for each patient bay and children’s toys for the minor injuries unit waiting area.

The money was raised by the League of Friends’ shop, ward trolley service, coffee mornings and donations.

Julie Button, Alnwick Infirmary’s modern matron, said: “We are delighted to be able to buy these items which will benefit our wide range of patients hugely. We are grateful that such a lot of money has been

spent to improve the hospital environment for patients at Alnwick Infirmary. We would like to thank the League of Friends for their continued support which is greatly appreciated by the staff and patients at Alnwick Infirmary.”

Jack Deeble, chairman of Alnwick League of Friends, said: “This is not our money, it has been raised by the community and we are very grateful for everyone’s generosity. We are very pleased that this money will be used to benefit patients and employees at Alnwick Infirmary.”

Infirmary says Thank you Friends!

Friends update

1� Friends Connect | Winter 2010-2011

Beatrice Lang was awarded a Diamond Award by Attend in recognition of her dedication to and hard work for the Titppethill League of Friends. After attending the event at St James Palace in March 2010, her League decided to honour her at their own event.

Tippethill League held a fund raising dance and Beatrice was presented with her Diamond Award certificate by Raymond Carse of the Tartan Lads, who play Scottish Folk music and tour all over the world.

Beatrice says: “I was greatly honoured to have received this award, and to come to London as well! It was a great experience. Tippethill League is a very small committee of ten people and have been helping the patients of the 60 bed hospital for 17 years.”

Diamonds and Tartan for Beatrice

Grantham celebrates 40 years

The League of Friends of Grantham Hospital continued to celebrate their 40th anniversary year on the 21st October with an award presentation evening and buffet. Founder and President Bernard Millhouse cut the cake with long time member Bob Wall. Certificates were presented to members in recognition of long service as well as recognising the Valued service of several more recent members. The event was supported by Hospital Trust Chairman, Paul Richardson.

Bernard helped found the Friends in 1970 to support the work of Grantham Hospital, they provide services as well as fundraise for new equipment. The Friends have also set up Radio Witham to provide music, news, entertainment and chat to the hospital wards. Radio Witham has won awards from the Hospital Broadcasting Association for the quality of its documentary programmes.

In addition to Radio Witham, the Friends run a car driver scheme and a charity shop and intend to increase voluntary services to the Grantham site in the near future.

Friends update

Beatrice being presented with her award by Raymond Carse of the Tartan Lads

Friends President Bernard Millhouse cutting the cake with Bob Wall.


A fond farewell

Hannah Arbeid 1964-2010

Hannah Arbeid first started volunteering in her teens on play schemes in the summer holidays. She soon put her volunteering energies into theatre, eventually getting paid positions. It was in the theatre she became involved with CSV and helped start up Make a Difference Day. In Australia she ran Clean Up Australia, a programme of organised litter picking.

After she was diagnosed with cancer and she became too ill to work full time at Attend she still continued to volunteer: in consultations at the Hospital she was attending and at her local park. She also helped out at the Special Needs school her Partner Sue-Ellen works at by taking the children on trips.

After her diagnosis, she focused her volunteering energies on the charity Breast Cancer Haven, promoting the value of their work and speaking at keynote events.

Breast Cancer Haven provides free support, information, counselling and complementary therapies to anyone affected by breast cancer.

Hannah was a much-loved member of the Attend team, having been involved with the organisation for many years, and we miss her energy and enthusiasm greatly.

Lady Evelyn Pope 1914-2010

Lady Evelyn Pope was Patron and former President of Nottingham QMC League for many years. She was instrumental in setting up a hostel for young women in 1980.

And as chairwoman of the League of Friends at the Queen’s Medical Centre, she arranged for wheelchairs to be provided for visitors.

Daughter of a Methodist minister, Lady Pope taught PE in a Belfast Methodist College; later moving to Nottingham where she was a negotiator and administrator within her husband’s business, Tecquipment.

Throughout the East Midlands, she had a vast interest in causes for students from home and overseas, setting up a home for international students.

Her health and social care interest spread into all aspects of the Nottingham hospitals and the work of League volunteers.

Lady Pope was born in Northern Ireland in 1914. She was one of five children and moved to England with Sir Joseph just after the end of the Second World War.

Lady Pope died on October 26, aged 95, after a bout of pneumonia. She had been living in Abbeyfield Nursing Home.

Lady Winifred Hilton 1919-2010

Lady Winifred Hilton was President of Derby Royal Infirmary League of Friends and the former Derbyshire County Association.

Lady Hilton was born Winifred Smith at Tansley, near Matlock, and served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in the Second World War.

During her life she took an active interest in more than 60 charities and voluntary organisations, including the Derbyshire St John Ambulance, the NSPCC and Derby Citizens Advice Bureau.

She was also Vice-President of the Royal British Legion and President of the group’s women’s section.

An Honorary Member of Attend, Lady Hilton was the widow of Col. Sir Peter Hilton, with whom she shared a life-time interest in the St John Ambulance in Derbyshire and nationally, leading the St John activities with the men’s, nursing and cadet divisions.

Lady Hilton died peacefully at home in Derbyshire on 21st October 2010, aged 91.

Hannah Arbeid worked for Attend from 2006.

Friends update

Documents

Friends Connect Issue 20